McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese: calories, nutrition, ingredients and allergens

A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 511 kcal. With small fries the total reaches 761 kcal. With medium fries the total reaches 841 kcal. With large fries the total reaches 941 kcal. Adding a medium Coca-Cola to a medium meal brings the total to 1,021 kcal. The Quarter Pounder with Cheese represents 26% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake and is one of the higher-calorie items on the core McDonald's menu.

Per item: 511 kcal, 26g fat (12.5g saturated), 39g carbohydrate (9g sugar), 2.4g salt, 30g protein. The saturated fat content of 12.5g is 63% of the adult daily guideline of 20g. The salt content of 2.4g is 40% of the adult daily limit of 6g and 80% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6. The sugar content of 9g is 30% of the adult daily free sugar limit of 30g and 38% of the limit for a child aged 7 to 10.

The beef patty in a McDonald's Quarter Pounder weighs a quarter of a pound before cooking — approximately 113g. This is around 2.5 times the weight of a standard McDonald's burger patty used in the Hamburger, Cheeseburger and Double Cheeseburger, which weighs approximately 45g before cooking. After cooking, the Quarter Pounder patty weighs approximately 83g. The larger patty is the defining characteristic of the Quarter Pounder range and is what drives the higher protein content at 30g compared to 15g in a standard Cheeseburger.

A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 12.5g of saturated fat, which is 63% of the adult daily guideline of 20g from a single item. For a child aged 7 to 10 with an estimated daily saturated fat guideline of approximately 16g, it represents 78% of their daily allowance. The 12.5g comes from both the large beef patty and two processed cheese slices — the Quarter Pounder is the only single-patty burger in the core range that carries two cheese slices, which contributes significantly to the saturated fat total.

McDonald's uses two processed cheese slices on the Quarter Pounder with Cheese — more than any other single-patty burger in the core range. The Big Mac has one cheese slice and the standard Cheeseburger has one. The two slices are used to balance the larger patty proportionally, as a single slice would be visually and texturally insufficient relative to the quarter pound beef. Each processed cheese slice contributes approximately 1.6g of saturated fat and 0.4g of salt, meaning the two slices together add approximately 3.2g of saturated fat and 0.8g of salt compared to a single-slice version.

A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 2.4g of salt, which is 40% of the adult daily limit of 6g. For a child aged 4 to 6 with a daily salt limit of 3g, the burger alone uses 80% of their entire daily allowance. Adding medium fries brings the total to approximately 3g, reaching the full daily salt limit for a child aged 4 to 6 from a single meal. The two processed cheese slices and the large seasoned beef patty are the primary contributors to the salt content.

A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 9g of sugar, all of which counts as free sugar under NHS guidelines. This is 30% of the adult daily free sugar limit of 30g and 38% of the limit for a child aged 7 to 10. The sugar comes primarily from the ketchup and the bun. The 9g is the same as the Big Mac and higher than the cheeseburger range which sits at 7g across Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger and Triple Cheeseburger. Adding a medium Coca-Cola adds approximately 35g of free sugar on top, exceeding the adult daily limit from the drink alone.

No. The McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese does not contain soya as a declared allergen, unlike the Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger and Bacon Double Cheeseburger which all contain soya. The allergen difference reflects a different bun formulation used on the Quarter Pounder range. The Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains wheat, sesame and milk. It may contain traces of barley and rye from shared kitchen equipment. For parents of children with soya allergies, the Quarter Pounder with Cheese is worth considering over the standard cheeseburger range on allergen grounds, though always verify against the current McDonald's UK allergen booklet before ordering.

A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 511 kcal compared to 509 kcal in a Big Mac — essentially identical in calories. The Quarter Pounder has more saturated fat at 12.5g versus 9.6g in the Big Mac and more salt at 2.4g versus 2g. The Big Mac has the same sugar at 9g. The Quarter Pounder has higher protein at 30g versus 26g due to the larger single patty. The Big Mac has more components and a more formulated sauce. For lower saturated fat and salt, the Big Mac is the more moderate choice despite being virtually identical in calories.

A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese with small fries contains approximately 761 kcal. With medium fries the total is approximately 841 kcal. With large fries the total is approximately 941 kcal. For a child aged 7 to 10 with a daily energy need of around 1,700 to 2,000 kcal, a Quarter Pounder with medium fries represents approximately 42 to 49% of their daily requirement from one meal. The salt total with medium fries reaches approximately 3g, reaching the full daily salt limit for a child aged 4 to 6.

Yes. A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese falls into NOVA group 4, ultra-processed foods. The sesame seed bun contains emulsifiers, maltodextrin and dextrose. Each of the two processed cheese slices contains emulsifying salts, whey powder and colours. The pickle slices contain a firming agent and preservative. All additives are approved for use in UK food. The beef patty itself is the most minimally processed component — 100% beef seasoned with salt and pepper — but the overall assembly places the item firmly in the ultra-processed category.

A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains wheat, sesame and milk. Unlike the standard cheeseburger range, it does not contain soya as a declared allergen. It may contain traces of barley and rye from shared kitchen equipment. It does not contain eggs, fish, crustaceans, celery, mustard, molluscs or lupin as ingredients. McDonald's UK cannot guarantee any item is completely allergen-free due to shared kitchen equipment and preparation areas. Always check the McDonald's UK app or in-restaurant allergen booklet for the most current information.

The Quarter Pounder with Cheese is not on the McDonald's Happy Meal menu and is not marketed at children. For a child aged 4 to 6, the salt content of 2.4g uses 80% of their daily limit and the saturated fat of 12.5g represents approximately 114% of their estimated daily guideline — exceeding it from a single burger. For a child aged 7 to 10, the saturated fat represents 78% of their daily guideline. For children, the Hamburger at 248 kcal, 3.2g saturated fat and 1g of salt remains the most moderate choice on the core McDonald's burger menu by a substantial margin.

Water is the lowest calorie option at zero calories and zero sugar. A medium water with a Quarter Pounder and medium fries keeps the meal at approximately 841 kcal with no drink sugar. A medium Diet Coke or sugar-free Sprite adds zero calories and zero sugar. A medium Coca-Cola adds approximately 180 kcal and 35g of free sugar — nearly four times the sugar of the burger itself. Given that the Quarter Pounder already contributes significantly to saturated fat and salt daily limits, keeping drink sugar low through drink choice is the most impactful remaining lever in the meal.

A McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese medium meal — burger with medium fries and medium Coca-Cola — contains approximately 1,021 kcal, 44g of free sugar (9g from the burger and 35g from the drink), approximately 3g of salt from the burger and fries combined, and approximately 14-15g of saturated fat. That is 51% of the adult daily calorie reference intake and more than the adult daily free sugar limit from a single meal. Substituting water for the Coca-Cola reduces the meal to approximately 841 kcal and brings free sugar down to 9g.